New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-25
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

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Those who have CHANGED In these latter days 70
hear questions relating to the practice OF agricut
are discussed by farmers at such meetings for ex-
ample, an the Substitutes recently held IN TINS
State must have been interested In observing now
freely and gently the members spoke OF nitro
gen, phosphorc acid and. potash and OF aibumi-
poids, carbohydrates and nutritiye ratios. ms
does not mean that the successful farmers navo all
beco.ne experts in agricultural chemistry. lhey
nav not be aule to make an analysis nor even to
follow tho processes by which investigators arrive
Mt the results recorded in the reports OF the many
experiment stations in this country and Europe
whore careful work in this field is carried on But
they are able to appreciate the value of these re-
suits. They have acquired familiarity with the
elementary truths Of chemical science as applied 10
agriculture which Is sufficient to enable tncIn "
comprehend tho nature of the problems 10 "hos'
solution men of science are addressing themselves
and TO keep abreast of the progress made In this
direction. The time has como whom the popular
ization of science the basis OF farm practice 10
necessity. For various reasons the margin OF proht
which accrues to tho farmer from capital invested
and labor employed has become so narrow that the
more precise methods which rule in manufacturing
enterprises must DO adopted. Waste products must
he utilized. Processes must DO cheapened. Advan-
those reasons the projudices against bookfarm-
ing" arc passing away and the most conservative OF
callngs which for generations has chung 80 stub
bornly to tradition 10 eagor to enlist in its be-
half the exact and searching methods OF science.
II is true that agriculture is largely an art and it
10 also true that hitherto pure science has not &C.
com ,iishod 50 much in pointing out tho way to
striking and revolutionary changes IN farm prac-
tice as thas in furnishing reasons for what expert
ence had already shown TO be good practice. But
the art il as old as the history Of mankind while the
science 10 young II is not probable that any
marked advance in tho moro art is to be hoped for.
Indeed, political economy assumes that the produc-
lions of tho soil cannot keep pace with tho increase
of popu atom that there Is reason to expect for
example, that the present rate of production can be
trobled Bat it should be remembered that
although Science has but recently taken the field in
earnest tho domain Of exact knowledge in the
sciences related to agriculture 10 even now rapidly
extending its borders and discoveries may reason
ably be hoped for that will enormously increase the
foodproh uciug capacity of the earth. Indeed, Pro-
lessor Sorcr believes that the discovery OF the part
that microscopic ferments play in the formation OF
nitrates will ultimately provo of great assistance
If some cheap method of making nitrates from tho
air shonld be invented tho results might be as
marvellous in agriculture as the invention of the
merce In q noteworthy paper by Sir John Bennett
Lawes recently published in which the destruction
of the fertility of new soils wher broken mp and
devoted to cultivation is shown to be unavoidable,
it 10 stated that We can no more restore this ex-
hausted fertility than restore tho coal to ex-
hausted mines. That is. the soil is mine az we'll
as q laboratory and yet 1t docs not follow that in
time the earth will cease to yield enough for man
90 shat tho race must ultimately be starved out.
For find substitutes for natural fertility or
the stores of plant food collected in the soil-nst
xs wo can find substitutes for coal. Hitherto the
natural fertility has been 90 abundant that att
Acal fertility" has played an Insignificant part in
tho husbapdry Of the world. Within the memory
of living men wheelbarrow could have Carried all
the mincra! phosphates known to exist But the
world 10 full of artificial fertility adds Sir John.
sThe Falls of Niagara and the wasted power of our
streams may sometime be employed in manufactur-
ing nitric acid from the air. aud an abundant and
cheap source of nitrates for the temperate zone
with irrigation for the tropics would increase the
crops of the world to almost unlimited extent.
These operations We may fully expect to be carried
ont when tae fitting time arrives" DR.. Sicmens,
also, in his address before the meeting of German
naturalists and physicians spoke to the same pnr-
mort when he said that was reasonable to look for
striking increase in the productive rower of the
earth under scientific cultivation before the time
arrives when chemistry in connection with cleo
trotechnics shall succeed in composing real food
substances out Of the nexhanstib.e abundance OF
their elements every where present. and thereby
mako tho number of those who may be supported
independent of tile ultimate productive capacity OF
the soil"
Perhaps the conservative students who make
these radiant prophecies are not expecting their
falflment In the near future But they certainly
arc working with q hopeful temper Intelligent
farmers have no such dreams, but they, too realize
that progress their art must come, if 1t come at
all, from rgdy scientific investigation. and every
year there are moro of them who seek to be in
formed AZ to what has been gained in this direc-
tion To all such Professor Storer's book will be
most welcome 1t contains the substance the
author tells US, of lectures delivered a. to young
farmers and the sons of farmers familiar with the
manual practice of agricultural operations " no
were DESTROYS of studying some of the sciences
which bear most Immediately upon the art OF farm
ing, and i2) 70 y-bred men-often graduates of
the academic department. of the universIty-who
intended either establish themselves upon farms
or to occupy country seats or to become Landscape
gardeners. The lectures make no special appeal to
students of chemistry but the author expresses the
modest hope that they may aid that large class of
practical farmers interested In scientific agricut
urs who cannot possibly find time to leave homo to
study It." There can be little doubt but that this
hope will be realized Professor Storer has famil-
lar knowledge of what has been accomplished in
this field. He has selected whatev er is Of estab-
lished Importance in tho results attained by the
most trustworthy experimenters in Europe and
America; ne has classified them skilfully and pre-
sented them with cearness and force. He has been
strikiugly successful In adapting his explanations
TO tho class of readers to which he appeals SO that
any ono with some elementary knowledge of chem
istry eau readily comprehend the most abstruse
chapter. Naturally the subject which occupies the
largest spaos IL that Of fertilizers OF all sorts. and
their influence. both chemical and mechanical; but
glance at tho titles OF tue first halfdozen of it,
twenty-five chapters will show that the scope o.